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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2006Somewhat sad...
We've just got back from an 10.30pm emergency vet visit. Tiger decided that he was going to be violently ill this evening and chuck up everywhere. Of course, it turns out that he is being sick because his anal glands are impacted again. I am somewhat relieved, but not overly impressed in having to pay an emergency vet fee when he's already been booked to go to the vet at 8.30am tomorrow for a full physical, and has been for the last week. Typical bastard cat trick. Anyway, that aside, I started talking to the emergency vet as I was paying the bill. We got onto the subject of stray animals - basically I said I felt like an over anxious paranoid mommy (I am) and she told me not to feel bad as it made a nice chance to have an owner who actually cared about their sick pet. It seems as it is the emergency vet for the whole of Cardiff, the RSPCA use it as a bit of a dumping ground for sick and injured animals. She mentioned that they get so many stray dogs and cats, any stray that is injured is usually made comfortable and then after 24 hours, if no owner is found, is put to sleep. She said that even the healthy ones are often put to sleep as the RSPCA don't want the bother of finding homes for them and often the owners, when found don't want them either. She went on to say that a microchip is no longer a guarantee that they would find an owner because so many people can't be bothered to update microchips, or don't want the animal - especially dogs - they're dumped, and it's usually the youngsters. :o( Last week she had to put 12 dogs to sleep, and a similar number of cats, simply because they had been dumped by their owners, had become stray, and had ended up injured and in the hands of the RSPCA. I mentioned Lily to her, as she was the lass who patched her up when she was first found by Cats Protection and taken to the vet, and I said how well Lily was now doing. She told me how relieved she was that Cats Protection got hold her and that when the RSPCA picked up Lily from the vet by mistake it had really upset her, because had Cats Protection not demanded her back, Lily wouldn't have had a chance. Please hug all your furry kids tonight and tell them how lucky they are, and please say a prayer for those who go to the bridge. Helen M > Please hug all your furry kids tonight and tell them how lucky they > are, and please say a prayer for those who go to the bridge. Absolutely. The vet techs at the local emergency clinic seem to have the same attitude -- I apologized for calling roughly eight billion times about my cat, but they said they were just glad to talk to an owner who cared enough to do that.  Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >Anyway, that aside, I started talking to the emergency vet as I was >paying the bill. We got onto the subject of stray animals - basically I [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >people can't be bothered to update microchips, or don't want the animal >- especially dogs - they're dumped, and it's usually the youngsters. :o( Sad? I think it's disgusting... how can they POSSIBLY claim to care about animals and not even give them the tiniest hair of a fighting chance? I thought it was bad that Tessie was only given three days, but 24 hours? :( I'm glad that it was only a minor health problem for your furbaby... > Sad? I think it's disgusting... how can they POSSIBLY claim to care > about animals and not even give them the tiniest hair of a fighting > chance? I thought it was bad that Tessie was only given three days, > but 24 hours? :( //// Unfortunately, despite their millions in the bank, if an animal is going to cost more than £50 to treat, the RSPCA euthanaise. They also routinely tell the vet practice to euthanaise healthy animals that have come in as strays. The RSPCA in this area don't give a sh*t. The vet went on to say that any strays going into the branch practice about 15 miles away have more of a chance because they are handled by a different rescue organisation. Unfortunately it is a reflection of the throw away society we live in. The vet practice tries to get as many animals into a specific rescue organisation in Bristol that it can, but if the RSPCA are in charge of it, the animals very rarely have any kind of chance. One of the reasons I turned down a job as an inspector with the RSPCA is because their policies STINK. Helen M > We've just got back from an 10.30pm emergency vet visit. Tiger decided > that he was going to be violently ill this evening and chuck up [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > booked to go to the vet at 8.30am tomorrow for a full physical, and has > been for the last week. Typical bastard cat trick. I'm starting to think these after hours vet visits are the feline equivalent of playing "made you look". And I hope his antics (yes I know he really felt ill, but don't they ever feel ill at 9am?) are an indication of his overall good health. That anything found on the all day physical is easily handled. Jo > Please hug all your furry kids tonight and tell them how lucky > they are, and please say a prayer for those who go to the > bridge. Those that have to carry out the hardest jobs have my respect, and purrs that some day it won't ever have to be done. They also have purrs from my gang for their poor hearts. I'm so glad you got Lily. She's such a beauty and she's bringing you and all the lives she's touched joy. That's the beautiful part. SignatureCheryl > She told me how relieved she was that Cats Protection got hold her and > that when the RSPCA picked up Lily from the vet by mistake it had really [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Please hug all your furry kids tonight and tell them how lucky they are, > and please say a prayer for those who go to the bridge. Purrs for HRFL, although I assume he's feeling better now after the vet visit. It is sad the way you put it about the ones that cross over. I don't want them to cross over. Or at least, I wish that they would know some love first so that they can take those memories with them. I believe that Lily really wouldn't have had a chance without you. Considering the attitudes of some people, like your neighbor who commented that Lily and Tiger should be PTS. Lily's trusting little self should not have ended on the note it might have. You managed so well to make up for someone's grave wrongs. > We've just got back from an 10.30pm emergency vet visit. Tiger decided > that he was going to be violently ill this evening and chuck up [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > booked to go to the vet at 8.30am tomorrow for a full physical, and > has been for the last week. Typical bastard cat trick. <snip> > Please hug all your furry kids tonight and tell them how lucky they > are, and please say a prayer for those who go to the bridge. > > Helen M Apart from Lily's story that was rather depressing. Congratulations to HRFL for a great bastard cat trick, I hope he's feeling better today. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk Helen, Is that the same vets that is on TV at the moment? I think it is criminal the number of pets that are dumped. The RSPCA is an over rated organisation, can't be bothered with a lot of things these days. sandra > Helen, > Is that the same vets that is on TV at the moment? I think it is criminal > the number of pets that are dumped. The RSPCA is an over rated organisation, > can't be bothered with a lot of things these days. Yes, the BBC Wales "VETS" is the emergency practice at the top of my street. Kinda convenient for my lot. ;o) Helen M >> Helen, >> Is that the same vets that is on TV at the moment? I think it is [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Helen M Looks interesting, I'll have to find a way to watch it next time it's on. (10 days time) SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk > We've just got back from an 10.30pm emergency vet visit. Tiger decided > that he was going to be violently ill this evening and chuck up [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > Please hug all your furry kids tonight and tell them how lucky they are, > and please say a prayer for those who go to the bridge. OMG. Don't start me on a rant about the RSPCA. I have no time for them at all. I would never donate a penny to them - or as my grandmother used to say "I wouldn't give them the droppings of my nose." I'll have to go to bed now before I start night night Tweed > We've just got back from an 10.30pm emergency vet visit. Tiger decided > that he was going to be violently ill this evening and chuck up [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Helen M So very sad! Lots of purrs, Polonca and Soncek > She told me how relieved she was that Cats Protection got hold her and > that when the RSPCA picked up Lily from the vet by mistake it had really > upset her, because had Cats Protection not demanded her back, Lily > wouldn't have had a chance. Smokey was not going to go to the animal shelter. Smokey was classified a "wild" animal and arrangements were made for him to be poisoned. Fortunately, CRGS (like most other military units) does not believe in abandoning one of its own. --Fil > Smokey was not going to go to the animal shelter. Smokey was > classified a "wild" animal and arrangements were made for him to be > poisoned. > > Fortunately, CRGS (like most other military units) does not believe in > abandoning one of its own. Some idiot dumped Huey at the airfield thinking that he'd fit in with the resident feral mouse and starling catchers. When a young cat (about 6 months old) walks down a formation rubbing himself against everyone in line, it is obvious that he is not a feral. Which is why Rob's ex section sergeant called us. He knew that we worked in animal rescue at the time. Huey made himself indispensable as a nurse cat for Rob and there was no way we were going to lose him. Interesting note. After Rob went to Medical Holding for out processing from the army, Rob's old unit deployed to the middle east, and a Louisiana Army Reserve unit based near Gracie's house took over. They had to clean small bags of dry cat food, cans of gooshy food and cat treats out of most of the desks in the office area. It turns out that the resident mouse and starling catchers had alternate sources of food as well. Pam S. smiling <snip> > Interesting note. After Rob went to Medical Holding for out processing > from the army, Rob's old unit deployed to the middle east, and a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > the resident mouse and starling catchers had alternate sources of food > as well. Everyone knows that well-fed cats are the best mousers! (and as Pratchett wrote, more or less, that theory was probably invented by someone with fure and whiskers.) -- Cheryl It is really sad that so many cats and dogs are being put to sleep these days, the problem seems to be getting worse instead of better. Here in Lancashire we get several cases a day reported to us of cats who have just been left behind by their owners, or of pregnant females who have been thrown out. We can't, with the best will in the world, deal with all of them, Last Thursday I took the calls from the public and we were asked to take in THIRTEEN cats altogether, for a variety of reasons. I didn't get one single call from someone who wanted to adopt a cat. We're not a sanctuary, we're a rehoming charity, and we can only work on a 'one out / one in' basis. It's very discouraging. We work SO hard, fundraising and looking after the cats, and we think we've done well if we find new homes for twenty cats in a month, then some moron will ring us and say that, hey, he 'forgot' to get his kittens neutered last year, and now, who woulda thought it, he's now got a dozen kittens that he can't find homes for and will we take them. One lazy thoughtless idiot more than makes up for dozens of dedicated volunteers, it seems. :-( Right now I have a trap set for a mother and three 'older kittens' who are doubtless now feral. All because someone didn't get the mother neutered when she was the right age. There can't be any excuse. I had my first cat when I was a student, I was permanently broke and didn't have a car, but I managed to scrape together the money for his vaccs and neutering, and took him to the vets on the bus. It meant that I ate beans on toast for a month, but I'd taken on a responsibility and that was that. It just feels like we're fighting a losing battle against the uncaring and ignorant. Grrr. I had my first cat when I > was a student, I was permanently broke and didn't have a car, but I managed > to scrape together the money for his vaccs and neutering, and took him to > the vets on the bus. It meant that I ate beans on toast for a month, but I'd > taken on a responsibility and that was that. Exactly. When we had Fugazi and Isis done, Dave was out of work and the job I had paid very little so it was a struggle supporting two people and two cats. But as soon as we got them, we started saving a few pounds each week so that when the time came they could be done. Our local council (like quite a few) has an animal population control clinic which does spay and neuter cheap for those who bother to check these things out and we took them there Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > I had my first cat when I >> was a student, I was permanently broke and didn't have a car, but I [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > clinic which does spay and neuter cheap for those who bother to check > these things out and we took them there Taking proper care of your kids is always a priority with any grown-up. Fur or bare, As far as I'm concerned, not getting the basic shots or not getting pets neutered is on a par with failing to give them food and water and shelter. Served my time with taking a payment to the vets office each payday. Glad to have reached a point where I can hand the a credit card or a check when its needed. Jo > Served my time with taking a payment to the vets office each payday. This crops up on the list a lot. Do vets do it in the UK? I've never heard of it over here. We used to have 2 credit cards with about £2,000 on them, which were kept in an envelope at home and defined as "only for emergencies" ie vet bills. Now we have enough money not to worry about things like that (Both got better paid jobs, overdrafts, a few bob in the bank) Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > Served my time with taking a payment to the vets office each payday. This crops up on the list a lot. Do vets do it in the UK? I've never heard of it over here. We used to have 2 credit cards with about £2,000 on them, which were kept in an envelope at home and defined as "only for emergencies" ie vet bills. Now we have enough money not to worry about things like that (Both got better paid jobs, overdrafts, a few bob in the bank) This was thirty five years ago. Not sure if we had credit cards then other than Sears and gasoline. But places like vets didn't take them then if we did. Jo >> Served my time with taking a payment to the vets office each payday. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Jo The first credit card was introduced in the UK in 1966, I thought the USA had them before that. I got my first credit card in 1975. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk >>> Served my time with taking a payment to the vets office each payday. >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > The first credit card was introduced in the UK in 1966, I thought the USA > had them before that. I got my first credit card in 1975. I had a gas credit card in 1964 and pretty sure Dad had one well before that. But all those cards were "proprietary". You could only use them at the company that issued them. I don't remember having a credit card before we moved to California in 1971, and don't remember not having one after that. Jo > >>> Served my time with taking a payment to the vets office each payday. > >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Jo Hmm. I don't recall anything except gasoline credit cards way back either. I remember having a "store account" at Sears where we had bought major appliances, but no card, around 1973. I think our first regular Mastercard was around 1982. OT: I don't normally watch Oprah, but it looked interesting, and I ended up watching the week's series called "Debt Diet". It is all about Americans and the debt we hold. I was really astonished at some of the stories. Also intrigued by the budgeting techniques. We just can't seem to save as much money as we should. It just costs so much anymore to *live*. But I'm committed to trying the budget for a couple of months. Sherry > The first credit card was introduced in the UK in 1966, I thought the USA > had them before that. I got my first credit card in 1975. Diners Club and American Express go back to the '50s. You had to pay the balances in full every month, I think. Bud >> The first credit card was introduced in the UK in 1966, I thought >> the USA had them before that. I got my first credit card in 1975. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Bud >> The first credit card was introduced in the UK in 1966, I thought >> the USA had them before that. I got my first credit card in 1975. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Bud Diners Club and American Express were described as charge cards, I found this on Visa's website. http://www.usa.visa.com/about_visa/about_visa_usa/history.html SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk Diners Club and American Express go back to the '50s. You had > to pay the balances in full every month, I think. Which makes them charge cards and not credit cards Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > It is really sad that so many cats and dogs are being put to sleep these > days, the problem seems to be getting worse instead of better. Here in [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Grrr. LONG RANT: It feels that way because that is exactly what it is. Excuse me for this, and I should not even post about this right now because I'm very angry, but the problem here looks like 99% uncaring and ignorant, and 1% can't afford it. We started a "Please Don't Litter" program with grant money & earmarked donations. Free spay/neuter by any vet of your choosing. FREE. The "application" has about 5 questions on it, which are just name, address, cat's name and age! They don't have to prove they are low income! And we practically have to beg people to take advantage of that. We make appointments for them and they don't show up even! ARRGGH. It just slays me. Some people are just so apathetic. They drop off litters and it does not bother them one whit. If you hint that a donation would be appreciated, they practically run out the door. There is one woman in particular I am calling today. She brought a litter of 6 in Tues.. They all have goopy eyes. This is NOT the first litter she has brought. I am struggling with whether I should tell her that we will NOT take any more of her kittens. She must bring Mama in so that we can see that she is spayed. But if I do that, you risk just making her mad, and she'll just distribute the next litter somewhere else; give them away unspayed. I"ve got to practice a speech. I've got to try to grit my teeth and make it sound somehow that she will take the bait and not be offended. That's the hard part. Talking nice to the ignorant and uncaring when you really want to let them have it with both barrels. It does not help the animals to make people angry. Sherry > > It just feels like we're fighting a losing battle against the uncaring and > > ignorant. [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Sherry I have a "friend" who fits the bill you're talking about, Sherry. She has a cat that has had at least 4 litters and the cat, Spaz, is only 2 years old. There's a place, not that far away, that will spay a cat for $22 USD. (That's where I took Miss Pua as soon as she was strong enough for the surgery.) The last litter Spaz had was 13 kittens. I think she knew she couldn't handle them and subsequently, purposely, killed them all. Obviously even the cat wasn't ready to be a mom again. If you can't take on the responsibility of an animal, don't get one! Thank goodness there are kind-hearted souls out there to help take on the challenge, but it angers me, too, at how many little souls end up euthanized or hit by cars, etc. It's unnecessary and extremely sad. kili > We started a "Please Don't Litter" program with grant money & earmarked > donations. Free spay/neuter by any vet of your choosing. FREE. The [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > that. We make appointments for them and they don't show up even! > ARRGGH.//// We've had the exact same problem in Cardiff. The local branch of Cats Protection was left a *not inconsiderable* sum to use as they saw fit. We started a free speuter campaign. We were even helping out other smaller Cardiff animal charities to help with their speuter costs. The general public in general, don't give a sh*t. I know one person, who has an unneutered tom. Because he doesn't spray in the house, she doesn't care that he's unneutered. I even offered to take him to the vet myself. She found an excuse for him not to go. I can no longer bear to speak to her as I'll probably end up smacking her in the mouth. Helen M I know one person, who has > an unneutered tom. Because he doesn't spray in the house, she doesn't > care that he's unneutered. Topped by someone I used to know who had an entire tom as an indoor cat...She didn't want him to be responsible for unwanted kittens but she didn't want him done so she kept him in one room in the house, which stunk to high Heaven! I later heard from a mutual friend that he once went round her house and this poor cat was clawing at his water bowl, which was empty so this other friend filled it. Cat gave a look of gratitude and proceeded to guzzle the water. She came in and had a go at the friend apparently she put water down with the cats meals and aftre 20 minutes she emptied both bowls! She really didn't apparently understand that cats should have water at all times Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > I know one person, who has >> an unneutered tom. Because he doesn't spray in the house, she doesn't [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Slave of the Fabulous Furballs That is so sad. :-( SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk >> It is really sad that so many cats and dogs are being put to sleep >> these days, the problem seems to be getting worse instead of better. [quoted text clipped - 59 lines] > you really want to let them have it with both barrels. It does not > help the animals to make people angry. Ah, it's so difficult when you just want to blast them for being so stupid! It's the same in my line of work, too. I've had to practise hard myself as being judgmental is usually counter-productive. I might say this "I've noticed that this isn't the first litter you've brought in for re-homing. It must cost you a lot to rear the kittens, so what do you think about bringing in your momma cat to be spayed free of charge so it will be easier for you to not have more kittens." Or words to that effect. Vary it accordingly. It's no good getting cross, like you say. Go in with the "let us help you." Gently, gently, catchee monkey. Tweed |
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